The postgenome era offers a plethora of potential therapeutic targets. Many of these targets
will be addressable using small organic molecules as drug candidates. However, certain
aspects of cell function, particularly those that rely on protein–protein or protein–nucleic acid
interactions, will be difficult to influence using small molecules. Thus, the possibility of using
highly specific macromolecules as potential therapeutic agents is an intriguing concept.
Recent developments in several areas of research have brought this possibility closer to …